Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiespor’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balfiespor’, characterized by its double-type, orange and white bicolored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfiespor’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfiespor’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inRijsenhout, The Netherlands during April 2005. The objective of thebreeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars with fullydouble-type flowers, attractive flower and foliage coloration, and afreely branching, compact growth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Accent Violet Star, notpatented, characterized by its single-type, violet and white bicoloredflowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, prostrate growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryImpatiens walleriana breeding selection designated 3286-2-2-2, notpatented, characterized by its semi-double, orange and white bicoloredflowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during May 2006 in a controlled environment atRijsenhout, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2006 at Rijsenhout, The Netherlands has demonstrated that the newcultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfiespor’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, orange and white bicolored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower form, flower color, and growth vigor and from plantsof the male parent primarily in flower form. The new cultivar has afull-double flower type.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Fiesta Sparkler Cherry‘Balfiespray’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,675. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar have a flower color differentfrom plants of ‘Balfiespray’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar can be compared to plants ofSILHOUETTE Orange Star ‘Silte Oransar’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,029.However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differfrom plants of ‘Silte Oransar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘Silte Oransar’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves, as measured        by leaf length and leaf width, than plants of ‘Silte Oransar’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfiespor’. Theplants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balfiespor’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balfiespor’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in April 2010 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 6 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch attransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70°F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F.to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levelsof 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during theday. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balfiespor.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Accent Violet Star, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection designated 3286-2-2-2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact-mounded growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 6.2 cm. Width: Approximately 18.8 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 4.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately            6.5 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Length of central internode: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 145C with streaks            of 187B. Streaks are wider at the node regions.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem, becoming perpendicular            with age. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Crenate, ciliate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width            of mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 2.6 cm.            Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of            lower surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: Closest to 139A with venation of 137. Color of            lower surface of young and mature foliage: 191B and            irregular areas of 187B with venation of 191A. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137A with            venation of 137C with a faint overlay of 187B on midvein.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D with            streaks of 187B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfiespor’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            6 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Double. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 6. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 3.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: 39C.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Width: Approximately 4.3 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.2 cm. Borne: Above and below foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 37. Shape: Obovate; innermost are            irregular. Aspect: Flat. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Obtuse; some are emarginate. Base: Attenuate.            Length of outermost petals: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width of            outermost petals: Approximately 2.0 cm. Length of innermost            petals: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of innermost petals:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:            Outer edges of 44B bordered with 65A adjacent to pure white            centers. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            44D with centers of 155D.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 2.1 cm.            Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at            distal end: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            145C, transparent.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Acute angle            to stem. Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B with a            faint overlay of 187B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, with one fused to base of            upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Lanceolate. Shape of            lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acute. Length of            lateral sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of lateral            sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately            8.0 mm. Texture of upper surface of all sepals: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface of all sepals: Glabrous. Color of            upper and lower surfaces of lateral sepals: 144A. Color of            upper and lower surfaces of lower sepal: N155D with center            of 145D.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiespor’,substantially as herein shown and described.